Looking Back - August 26, 1985

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - At 3:07 p.m. Saturday, a dream which had eluded Ville Platte baseball fans for some 20 years finally came true.
Now it welcomes home its heroes, a band of 13 youths ages 11-12 years who for the past week captured the hearts and imaginations of not only the city of Ville Platte but the city of Fayetteville and the Deep South as well - the 1985 National Dixie Youth World Series Champions from Ville Platte, La.
We are the champions!
Young Johnny Fontenot, son of assistant coach Clyde Fontenot, helped make the dream come true with a single swing of the bat in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday afternoon. He sent the ball sailing over the fence for a two-run home run and a 3-1 extra inning victory over the Texas state champions from Lufkin.
It was the only home run hit by the local stars since subdistrict playoff action. The ball was later returned to Johnny as a souvenir.
Team manager J.F. “Black” Lafleur Jr. called his comeback kids - dubbed the “Cardiac Cajuns” by the Fayetteville press - a “super team who not only played great here but one who will make their mark in the future.”
In winning the national crown, Ville Platte - thought to finish no better than in the middle of the 12-team field - fought its way undefeated through subdistrict, district, state, and national Series tournaments to lay claim to the title with a superior 18-0 mark.
But it was hard in coming as the local stars had to fight from behind in three of the five Series games, including the title win over Texas in which they had to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score at 1-1. Kevin Perry’s RBI single proved to be the equalizer.
These two well-matched teams battled toe-to-toe throughout the game and through two extra innings before Fontenot’s heroics. Alex Cantu was the wining pitcher in relief of Cody Vidrine.
Ville Platte earned its spot in the finals with tough early wins over Georgia 3-2, Virginia 2-1, and South Carolina 4-0 to clinch at least a tie for second. The locals then earned a berth in the finals with an easier than expected 11-6 win over Arkansas Friday night.
That set up Saturday’s nailbiter which saw Ville Platte blow several early scoring opportunities, only to come back once again to earn its monicker of Cardiac Cajuns. A Texas win would have forced a second championship game.
And while the throng of Ville Platte fans who made the long trip cheered young Fontenot as he rounded the bases, the bellowing fire horn told radio fans back home of the joy of victory.
After five previous tries in the series, on Saturday there was no agony of defeat.
Once again...
We are the CHAMPIONS!!!